A growing number of Germans doubt that Friedrich Merz has what it takes to be a good chancellor. A recent Forsa poll for the RTL/n-tv Trendbarometer found that 52% of respondents don’t believe in his leadership abilities, while only 38% think he’d do a solid job.
Even within his own party, confidence is slipping—74% of CDU supporters still back him, but that’s a noticeable drop from last week’s 83%.
So, what’s causing this shift? Merz’s recent push for a massive €1 trillion debt plan to fund defense and infrastructure has sparked controversy. His decision to align with the Social Democrats (SPD) on this proposal—and his apparent willingness to court the Greens for additional support—has raised eyebrows among conservatives who expected him to stand firm on fiscal responsibility.
Despite the CDU’s election victory on February 23rd, their 28.5% result was one of the weakest in party history. Many voters backed Merz expecting a strong stance on immigration, economic revitalization, and a rollback of radical climate policies. Yet, before even stepping into the chancellor’s office, he’s already walking back key promises. His hardline pledge to curb illegal migration? Softened. His commitment to fiscal conservatism? Compromised by the debt proposal. And if he bends to the Greens’ demands, expect major concessions on climate funding as well.
Voter enthusiasm is waning. Since the election, CDU-CSU support has dipped slightly to 28%, while the SPD is sliding even faster, dropping 1.4 points to just 15%. Meanwhile, the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), which finished second with 20.8%, has gained momentum and now sits at 22%.
Merz is at a crossroads. If he continues down this path of compromise, he risks alienating the very voters who put their faith in him. The question now is whether he’ll stand his ground—or keep shifting to accommodate his political rivals.
